Pages

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Doug Lazenby Santa Paula High School English Teacher. Grandpa Doug

Look carefully and you can see Doug, winking!
So sweet and yes, he was a romantic.

Doesn't this man look like Grandpa Doug?
Steve, my husband, cried all through the movie.

If my father-in-law would have heard the song, Dream Big, it would have been his theme song. A whole big bunch of his life was messed-up by that leg. The leg was burdensome, always in the way, and hurt like crazy... all the time!

Doug was my example. My legs are ugly and hurt, but they'll get better. I'm thankful for such a wonderful person to pattern my hope and my attitude in my life. I want to look for the good, the great, and for all the fun stuff around me... and I don't need legs right now to enjoy life!

Doug was a huge sports fan--I think it was any sport and he actually held the shot-put record for Utah forever. He played track and field and was a great football player.

My five girls, and I think Diana's too, put pennies on his grave because he always picked pennies off the ground. Not because they were worth anything... but that President Lincoln was being walked on and when you think of that, it makes you stop and think about patriotism. He was that; and a veteran. ( Did I put the semi-colon in the right spot? Doug?)

Grandpa Doug was way beyond silly and ANYONE who had him in school absolutely loved him as a teacher!! Everyone's favorite. Mine, too. I had him for Sophomore English. He was everyone's favorite coach and took the baseball team to CIF. He was the tennis coach and a Driver's trainer teacher. Brave, very brave.

Orpha, his mother was 100 years old
and she sang to his songs. It was so emotional--

Kiely remembers crying. She's on the far left.

This one was just for FHE

On the evening of Monday, Dec. 15, '97. We held Family Home Evening at 604 Ellfred Court. Bree gave the lesson and asked each of us to write down our personal articles of faith. great-Grandpa Doug wrote:

I BELIEVE IN EV'RY DROP OF RAIN THAT FALLS,

I BELIEVE IN KIDS & CARS & ALL BIRD CALLS.

I BELIEVE IN LOVE & EVEN FOOD-ESPECIALLY SWEETS,

I BELIEVE IN COOL & CRISP & FLUFFY SHEETS.

I BELIEVE IN SLEEPING LATE & ALL DAY LONG,

AND SINGING LOUD & WAY6 OFF KEY IN EV'RY SONG.

I BELIEVE IN TALKING, THO NO ONE LISTENS IN,

I BELIEVE IN WALKING, BUT DOC SAYS IT'S A SIN.

I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD ALWAYS PAY MY WAY,

BUT, I'LL ACCEPT ALL FREEBIES ANY & EV'RY DAY.

LUANA BELIEVES HER DAD'S A REAL DORK,

BUT SHE WOULD FIGHT FOR ME & THAT'S NO JORK.

P.S.

I BELIEVE IN EMILY & TANNER TOO,

AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE SAME FOR ALL OF YOU!! AMEN DLaz

P.P.S.

WE ALL BELIEVE IN TRESSA'S SOON-BORN DOLL

AND ROBERT'S COMING JAMES-WILL THAT BE ALL?

Nope! Not by a long-shot, Grandpa and they're not through yet.

He could play the harmonica beautifully and wrote songs and we have tons of poems that he wrote. Of course, give him a paper to write on, even something little, and it was poetry! Doug memorized long, long poems like "Casey At The Bat" and we would listen mesmerized and in awe because he would act it out while he sat in his chair.

Doug was there with my mother-in-law when I joined the Church. I was afraid to bear my testimony about 4 months later and my home teachers would not let up on me. So.. I went to the clerk's office and found him and had him sit in front of me so I could hold on his shoulders and stand without my knees giving away from nervousness. I loved him before I loved my husband. (Steve was on his mission in Oklahoma, when I joined the Church)

Did I mention he made wooden toys for the kids and grand kids? Yeah, he was an artist, too. He painted the wooden toys and we are so blessed to have so many of his creations. He made tons of stuff, even really intricate windmills and marble mazes. How'd he think all those wonderful toys up?

I can't even tell you who misses Grandpa the most. Kiely cries that she didn't get enough time with him and she doesn't ever remember him walking, normal.

Right now, he's my hero. No complaining much--he couldn't even drive or walk. We did get into all the rides at Disneyland first. That was his "happy place" and there's a sidewalk brick with a gold coin just for him in it, right in front of the Mickey Mouse Flower Garden. Grandpa Doug's theme song..."Dream Big" (but, that may have been for a fish)

I remember Mr. Lazenby he was one of my teachers and baseball coach. I remember Mr. Lazenby wouldn't let us use a cuss word when we flopped. I liked him and have always respected him. He was always there with a hello when I ran into him. He raised a wonderful family